Search
Close this search box.
My Account
My Account

jaguar specialist suffolk

Progress on the 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Coupe

May 30, 2024

Our technician Jon has been making progress on the resurrection of the 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Coupe.

The next stage of the cars journey back onto the open road begins with Jon fitting a new rear brake master cylinder. Having the old unit and new unit next to each other, the positions are slightly different from the original to the new unit, so Jon had to make up new brake lines from the master cylinder to the the join in the offside front floor area. Then, he could fit the new flexi hoses to the front and rear of the car before bleeding the entire system. However, the front of the system bled without issue but the rear we were unable to bleed at this point.

Carrying on with recommissioning the hydraulic system in the car, Jon began work on the clutch. This involved removing the old clutch slave cylinder from the classic Jaguar and the pipework. After fitting up the new system and pipes, he could fill up the circuit and begin to bleed them after securing down the new brake pipes at the same time and then cleaning down/tidying up the work area.

Next up, Jon blew out all of the fuel lines and pipework to make sure that any dust or debris from the workshop wasn’t sat in the lines while the car has been on the ramp before securing them all down to the car.

This is when he could turn his attention to the steering of the car. The steering column support in the lower part of the bulkhead was excessively moving (see video) even after Jon had drilled out the lower universal joint and replacement the worn bolt which connects the two pieces with a new nyloc piece, which improved the movement but was still not clamping fully on the piece. So, he removed the upper part of the steering column first to upgrade the component with new elastin bushes and then begin to refit the piece, however the column still moved excessively in Jon’s professional opinion. The bulkhead column support was then put on order to be refitted into the car.

Whilst the steering column was out of the car, Jon could drain the coolant and remove the radiator from the car after the cars initial fire up and testing, to remove the offside steering rack mount and the lower steering column mount from the engine bay, and fully drill out the universal joint better to clean down all the surfaces and refinish it in a new hard wearing coat of black paint.

With the new bulkhead support on order, Jon turned his attention back to the hydraulics of the car. After topping off all the fluid reservoirs, Jon along with the help of our workshop manager John managed to complete bleed each individual system.

After that, Jon began to put petrol in the new fuel tank for the first time in order to check for leaks in the tank – all was ok. He also swapped over the fuse for the fuel pump to a more suitable and durable unit for the needs of the system. After that, he connected up the battery in order to get fuel pressure from the engine on turn over to prime the system all the way to the pre-filter sight bowl. Then, he disconnected the battery.

Finally, Jon moved onwards to getting the carburettors ready to accept the fresh fuel now in the new fuel tank. He carefully tightened down and inspected all connections from the filter to the carburettors before connecting the battery back up again and the turning on the ignition to prime the fuel system and test. Jon found there was a slight leak from the sight glass under the higher pressure and from the number 1 carburettor. This was found to be an issue with the washers used in the connection to carburettor 1 and fitted a new rubber seal to the sight glass sediment bowl. After that, all of the leaks were sorted and he could the refit and secure the boot floor and all necessary trims.

New Arrival – 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Coupe

May 1, 2024

We’ve just had several new arrivals at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ, one of them is this truly stunning 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Coupe.

This one has a funny connection to us! We recently were at H & H Auctions for there most recent auction and actually saw this car. As it went across the block, it had been bought by an enthusiast overseas. Well, the very next day when the team got in the office – the owner had contacted us to recommission the car ready for road use.

It’s always a pleasure to work on these automotive icons, and we’ve recently been doing a lot of them but thankfully with our world class restoration teams – we’ll have this early back on the road in no time!

Update – Working on the 1968 Jaguar E-Type 4.2

September 7, 2022

The 1968 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our restoration technicians to tackle a couple of jobs on.

The first task the team had was to repair part of the radiator. The joint at the top of the filler neck had broken, it had previously been glued, and was bypassing the expansion tank. So, our technician Dave cut off the original to clean up the part and resolder the piece back on.

The next step was for Dave to work on the rear brakes and handbrake of the classic E-Type. The team have gone through and manually adjusted the handbrake on the car as well as fitting a new return spring to the near side rear and having to carry out a small modification to the system in order to fit the new spring.

Whilst looking into the brakes, the team noted the light on the dash, which indicates the brake fluid being low or the handbrake was on, wasn’t working. Upon inspection, the team found the bulb was actually gone from the system but upon testing they found the circuit itself was inoperative and suspect the issue is with the internal switch located underneath the interior of the car which would need to be removed to replace.

Also, the team discovered some paint blistering under the brake fluid reservoir but after inspecting the tank actually found the system to be overfilled and the escaped excess had dripped down and disturbed the paint.

Moving onto the engine of the E-Type, the team found a leak from the back of the Cam Cover on the straight-six. Upon inspection, Dave found an O-Ring from the rev counter mechanism had begun to leak so the team removed it from the back of the camshafts and replaced the seals before fitting it back up to the engine.

Repaired – Fixing the Seat Base on the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

August 23, 2022

The trim shop at the Bridge Classic Cars Suffolk HQ have been working on repairing the seat base of the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster while at our restoration workshop.

The team have removed the seat base from the car in order to repair the stitching which has come apart. For this, our trimmer Lydia carefully unpicked the sides to remove the cover to restitch it properly and make sure the repair is near enough invisible to keep the originality of the stunning 1950s roadster.

Tightened Up – Replacing and Retightening Trim on the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

August 22, 2022

The 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have some smaller jobs finished off.

The team have gone through each of the trim pieces to tighten down the necessary hardware, with any marred or damaged pieces replaced. The team also took the opportunity to recheck the hardware used for fixing down the seats in the gorgeous 1950s roadster.

Nostalgia – Our 1966 Jaguar Mk2 in South Africa

August 8, 2022

The former owner of our 1966 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 has sent over some photos of its previous life in South Africa!

The photos show everything from the car taken back to a bare painted shell to being used as a wedding car and at the top of some of the amazing scenery that surrounded its hometown.

It’s always amazing to see the former lives of our cars!

This Just In – 1992 Jaguar XJS V12

August 8, 2022

The latest arrival at the Bridge Classic Cars restoration workshop at our Suffolk HQ is this 1992 Jaguar XJS V12.

The classic Jaguar has come in for our restoration teams to look into and inspect. The teams will be assessing what is needed to be on the car which has been laid up in a garage nearby for a little while.

Keep a look out on the Bridge Classic Cars news page very soon for more updates.

Progress – Wiring Up the 2022 Bridge C-Type Replica

July 26, 2022

The workshop team at Bridge Classic Cars have been working on wiring up our 2022 Bridge C-Type Replica.

The harness has been routed through the body and frame of the car to be trimmed and connected where needed.

The team have also fit the spotlight which will sit behind the grille of the classic racer.

Up and Down – Sorting Out the Window of the 1954 Jaguar MkVII

July 19, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have sorted an issue with the window on the 1954 Jaguar MkVII which is in at our Suffolk HQ.

The classic Jaguar has developed an issue when winding the driver’s window down. The window glass would come off the runner attached to the regulator and then eventually drop to go back into the runner.

Our workshop carefully stripped back the door card and made the necessary adjustments to fix the issue before being put back together for the team to carry on with the other work on the car.

Delicate Work – Repairing and Refitting the Chromework on the 1984 Jaguar XJ

July 15, 2022

A few months ago, we repainted the bonnet and boot of the 1984 Jaguar XJ for its owner.

A couple of days ago the car came back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop to have the team here repair and refit the chrome work to the classic XJ.

Scott, one of our technicians, carefully cleaned up and reshaped some of the delicate pieces to get them fitting just right into the recesses and curves of the car. He also had to repair several of the mounts needed to secure the trim pieces to the car. But, with gentle work, Scott managed to get all of the trim pieces looking spot on and fitted back onto the car for its owner.

Faulty – Diagnosing a Faulty Rear Window Switch and Dial Circuit on the 1970 Jaguar XJ6

July 11, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars has been working on diagnosing and fixing a couple of issues with the electrical system of the 1970 Jaguar XJ6.

Firstly, the team carried out a repair on the printed circuit for the instrument dials. Our technician John carefully repaired the circuit before testing the component and found all was working correctly.

Then, he could turn his attention to an issue with the rear heated screen. John traced the fault back to the switch which controls the circuit. The switch was stripped apart, cleaned up and retested. All was ok after the repair.

Out & About – 1966 Jaguar MkII 3.8 at Simply Jaguar, Beaulieu

June 29, 2022

The winner of our 1966 Jaguar MkII 3.8 has sent in some photos of the car at its first outing at historic Beaulieu.

The car took part in the show Simply Jaguar where it was joined by nearly every generation and modern of Jaguar possible. From early SS cars to the newest F-Type, everything was on display along with the normal exhibitions at the National Motor Museum.

We love to see our competition cars out there in the world!

Double Checked – Checking the Fuel Sender on the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

June 24, 2022

As part of the checks on the reported fuel gauge issue with the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, Jon has checked some wiring on the classic Jaguar.

Jon has been in the boot of the Roadster to check the wiring for the fuel tank sender which also controls the fuel gauge. He checked the overall condition of the connections as well as performing a continuity test on the circuit.

All came back completely clear and showing a good ground.

Refresh – Gearbox Service and Checking a Fuel Issue on the 1951 Jaguar XK120

June 24, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars team have been working on the Jaguar XK120 with this round of work comprising of a gearbox oil change and looking into a fuel issue.

To begin with, the team began to look for a reported fuel leak at the rear of the car. Jon inspected all pipework to and from the tank, with no evidence of a leak anywhere to be found with all fittings tight and secure. Next, he looked into the issue of the fuel gauge not reading correctly, however for the team here the gauge worked correctly on test.

Moving on with the work we had been asked to carry out was a gearbox service on the classic Jaguar. For this, the team had to remove the gearbox drain and allow the entire casing to empty completely (the team also inspected the oil for any debris) before moving into the cabin of the XK120. Carefully they moved the carpets back and cover them. Then they could remove the inspection plate which allows the team to fill the gearbox from the top of the transmission. After that, the plate was put back on and secured, and carpets fitted back into place and hoovered throughout by the team.

Next Up – Sorting the Brakes and Sump on the 1951 Jaguar XK120

June 24, 2022

The workshop at Bridge Classic Cars have been working through the list of jobs on the 1951 Jaguar XK120 in with us.

Next up for our technicians is to sort out a binding front brake. Upon inspection, Jon found one of the wheel cylinders was in need of a rebuild, and looking closer discovered an issue with a brake hose. The cylinder was completely stripped down and thoroughly cleaned before reassembly. Then, once in place, Jon could remove the brake hose and replace it with a brand new piece before cleaning up the rest of the brake system and bleeding the brakes.

Next up was for Jon to sort out an oil leak from the sump. Assessing the sump area he found the inspection cover gasket had begun to weep so it was replaced with a brand new gasket before he turned his attention to the sump plug. Removing the sump bung, Jon found an issue with the threads which weren’t allowing the bung to be tightened down correctly and seal. So, the team carefully remove the threads and installed a Helicoil in its place for the sump bung to thread into and tighten down correctly.

Then, the engine could be refilled with oil and level checked.

Adjust and Inspect – Checking Over the Valvetrain of the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

June 24, 2022

The 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop has had our technicians looking into the source of some noises believed by the team to be coming from the legendary straight-six engine.

For this, Jon removed the cam covers on the top of the engine to inspect the tolerances on the tappets which control the valves. After checking these against the spec, Jon did the necessary adjustments to each individual piece until all were within the original specifications for the car. Whilst there, Jon noticed some slack in the cam chain which controls the valves in the engine. On the Jaguar, this can be adjusted to either tighten or loosen the chain which was adjusted until the chain tension was also as close to the original specification as possible.

After everything was checked and double-checked, the cam-cover could go back on with brand new gaskets as well as new breather gaskets to ensure a tight seal for the straight-six. Then, it could be run up and tested and Jon reported no noises occurring in the engine bay.

Blend In – Paint Repairs on the 1970 Jaguar XJ

June 22, 2022

In between the workshop technicians working on the engine and running of the 1970 Jaguar XJ, the paint and body team took the chance to carry out a few paint repairs to the classic Jaguar.

In some places, the paint had become very thin in a few areas of the wing on the Jaguar and also had a few dents in nearly the same area. So, the team carefully prepped thewing of the car in order to do minimal filler work before priming the area. Once primed, our body shop knocked back the whole area methodically using finer and finer abrasives to achieve a perfect finish before it went back into the paint booth.

Our painter, Al, carefully scanned an area of the car to get an exact match for the rest of the classic Jaguar before it is colour sanded and polished to match the finish on the rest of the car.

Behind the Scenes – Live Draw of the 1985 Jaguar Sovereign V12

June 17, 2022

First of all, congratulations to David! He won the 1985 Jaguar Sovereign V12 during last night’s draw with ticket number 2631 but, along with the live draw the team gave all of our audience a look around some of the other cars stored in our new building.

The Jaguar Sovereign V12 was the main event of the evening but it was surrounded by either current or possible future competition cars and some amazing restoration/customer cars we keep on site. Hayley and Freddie went all through the classic Jaguar showing everyone watching along on the live stream the fine details and modern luxuries which came as standard when the Sovereign V12 was new.

Then, Hayley handed it over to Nick who went through a little bit about our new online classic sales platform MyClassics. An overview of how, why, what and where it exactly is and that it sits with the enthusiasts at heart, whether that be buying or selling a classic it was designed just for them.

A quick look around the fantastic and eclectic mix of classics stored in our new building from a customers 1932 Lagonda Tourer in for our incredible trim team to work on all the way to a modern Triumph Street Twin motorcycle.

But, everyone watching along wanted to know the answer to the ultimate question which hung in the air. Who did the 1985 Sovereign V12 belong to? We also wanted to find out. Heading over to the screen, the team began that process.

Using our pre-published entry lists (these are generated after ticket sales close or the competition sells out) the team verified that the tickets were within the range of between 1 and 3333. Then, it was over to the Google Random Number Generator to let lady luck take control. Hayley set the criteria and as the screen became awash with whirring numbers, the anticipation rose.

Finally, it landed on a number. 2631.

Consulting the entry list, that particular ticket number had been purchased by David Graham. The new owner of the 1985 Jaguar Sovereign V12. So, as we do with all our live draws we gave him a ring to give him the good news.

When David answered, he was thrilled. He had entered for the Sovereign after always wanting a classic to join in with his friends who restore and enjoy classics up in Scotland and now he has his Jaguar V12 to get involved in the fun!

You can rewatch the live draw on the video below:

Gone Through – Inspection of the 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster

June 16, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars workshop have been working on inspecting the 1972 Jaguar E-Type V12 Roadster along with carrying out some small repairs on the classic Jaguar.

The team have checked through the underside and all major components of the classic sports GT and found some areas which will require attention in the future. There are some areas of corrosion starting to form on the underside of the car, several of those have been cleaned up and sealed by the team, as well as some pipework which is out of shape.

One of the jobs the team have done is to replace a split radiator hose which works to cool the V12. This had a quite severe split in the front section so the team removed it from the car and fitted a replacement piece before refill and checking the levels.

Run Through – Road Testing the 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster

June 16, 2022

The restoration workshop have been tasked to look into a few items for the owner of the stunning 1951 Jaguar XK120 Roadster. To look into some of those issues, the classic Jaguar roadster has been carefully road tested by the team.

Firstly, our restoration technician Jon has been testing the car to try and locate the mentioned unusual engine noise from the straight-six. The team will test the car in varying conditions (driven, idle, visual inspection) in order to look into any possibilities for the noise.

With the XK120 Roadster back into our workshop, tucked away in the Suffolk countryside, it will be moved onto one of our ramps to begin visual inspections of the car and some other items noted by its owner.

Set Up – Cleaning and Setting Up The Carburettors, and Sorting the Ignition Issue on the 1970 Jaguar XJ

June 15, 2022

The 1970 Jaguar XJ has been in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop for our technicians to look into some running issues with the classic saloon car.

To begin with, our technician Jon road tested the car to confirm the issue with the car and to find out the situation the issue would arise in. After confirming the fault, he could begin to work his way through the fuel and ignition systems in the engine bay.

After inspecting, decided to strip and rebuild the carburettors to make sure that they were clean, clear and working just as they should do. Once rebuilt, they could be put back onto the manifold to begin testing again. The issue had become better but it still had some areas that Jon needed to investigate. He noticed a broken wire inside the distributor which was repaired, and the car was retested but again did not resolve the issue.

The team then took the decision to upgrade the ignition system to an electronic set-up and programme in the correct timing gap and curve to work with the car. After road test, Jon reported that the car worked just as it should do.

Adventure Time – The 1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 Roadster Collected

June 15, 2022

The Bridge Classic Cars team have delivered our beautiful 1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 Roadster to its owner ahead of the car being taken on holiday.

The team met up with Stephen in Folkstone to hand over Fern Grey on his way to France on holiday where the car will join the 1973 Triumph TR6 on its adventures in France.

Fern Grey has been built entirely to Stephen’s specification by our in-house restoration teams who have spent countless hours building, perfecting and testing the beautiful V12 E-Type for this moment and its life with its owner afterwards.

We look forward to hearing about the Jaguar’s adventures over the summer in France and wish Stephen many happy miles in this incredible GT car.

To go back and look at the entire 1973 Jaguar E-Type V12 Series 3 Roadster project, click here!